Cytotoxicity and targeted drug delivery of green synthesized metallic nanoparticles against oral Cancer: A review

[Display omitted] •Green-synthesized metal nanoparticles enable targeted drug delivery, improving oral cancer treatment.•Eco-friendly plant-based synthesis of metallic nanoparticles provides enhanced biocompatibility.•Green nanoparticles improve drug delivery in oral cancer.•Green-synthesized metallic nanoparticles have tunable properties that enhance oral cancer treatment. Recent advancements in nanotechnology have significantly contributed to developing innovative approaches in cancer therapy, particularly for oral cancer. This review focuses on the promising strategy of using green-synthesized metallic nanoparticles, which possess unique physicochemical properties suitable for targeted drug delivery and enhanced cytotoxicity against cancer cells. These Nanoparticles (NPs) are synthesized through environmentally friendly methods that utilize natural extracts or biomolecules as reducing and stabilizing agents. Their biocompatibility and capacity to penetrate biological barriers make them excellent for delivering therapeutic drugs directly to oral cancer cells, reducing systemic toxicity and increasing the efficacy of therapy. Numerous research on the cytotoxic effects of plant-synthesized Metallic Nanoparticles (MNPs) on oral cancer have demonstrated significant anticancer properties, attributable to their minute size and elevated surface-to-volume ratio. Functionalizing these nanoparticles with targeted ligands, such as peptides or antibodies allows for specific detection and binding to receptors that are overexpressed on cancer cell surfaces. This specific method improves cellular uptake of therapeutic medicines, resulting in enhanced apoptosis and suppression of tumor cell proliferation. Additionally, the tunability of the physicochemical properties of these nanoparticles allows for optimization of their therapeutic efficacy and pharmacokinetics. Overall, this review highlights that green-synthesized metallic nanoparticles can be used to develop targeted and successful diagnosis of the oral cancer treatment.